Which countries use the British Pound Sterling?

The British pound (ISO: GBP) is one base unit of sterling – that being the name of Britain's currency – and is subdivided into 100 pence.

Contributing to around 13% of all foreign exchange deals, the pound, or sterling, is the world’s fourth most traded currency.

Reputedly, sterling is 1200 years old. It is said that Anglo-Saxon traders used silver pennies in the eighth century called ‘sterlings’, 240 of which would equal one pound in weight.

Due to its membership of the European Union, Britain could have adopted the euro as its currency upon its introduction in 1999, however the British government opted against this because it wanted to retain monetary policy independence and because it perceived euro adoption as offering only small economic benefits.

In recent years, the most significant event to affect sterling’s valuation was the UK’s vote to leave the European Union on June 24th 2016 – a day on which the exchange rate for GBP/USD fell by as much as 11%.

In the past two decades, the pound’s highest valuation against the dollar occurred in November 2007 when GBP/USD reached 2.1161. Its lowest value came in October 2016, three-and-a-half months after the historic ‘Brexit’ vote, when GBP/USD reached 1.1905.

British Pound Sterling (GBP) in the markets

20-February-19: Given Brexit uncertainties, 2018 wasn’t too bad of a year for the pound. Although it lost 7.5 percent of its value against the US dollar, it only lost 1.9 percent against the euro and gained nearly 3 percent against the Australian dollar.

In early 2019, the pound has been resilient, having gained several percent against most of the other G10 currencies despite UK politics being in a state of disarray and with all Brexit options still on the table. Sterling remains well down when compared with its recent history though: at the time of writing, against the US dollar it was 12 percent lower than levels prior to the UK’s EU referendum in June 2016.

Pound forecasts are futile given uncertainties over Brexit but estimates can be made for different outcomes. Currency analysts at HSBC said in February that sterling would be valued at levels near US$1.10 in the event of no-deal, near US$1.45 with a deal and at US$1.55 should Article 50 be revoked and Brexit cancelled. GBP/USD was quoted at US$1.305 at the time of this report.

The interactive chart below shows the USD to GBP exchange rate for the previous 3 months with rate alerts for days when
the exchange rate moved up or down significantly or for 30 day highs and lows.

Travel, Currency and Money saving tips for Guernsey

The second-largest island in the Channel Islands, Guernsey has gone to great lengths to change its sleepy backwater image, and it's working. Flatter and less dramatic-looking than Jersey, Guernsey has some stunning beaches, particularly along the north coast, rugged cliffs in the south, and a lively, compact capital of St Peter Port.

There's more to Guernsey than offshore banking and cream teas: there are Neolithic graves, Victorian forts and German fortifications to explore, adventure sports such as coasteering and rock climbing are on the rise, the north coast is excellent for watersports, and St Peter Port lures visitors in with its great dining scene. Like the rest of the Channel Islands, it is not part of the UK, but nonetheless it feels resolutely British. Yet due to its proximity to France and its quirky laws and customs it has a very unique feel to it.

Guernsey is known for its number of spectacular walks.

What currency to use in Guernsey?

UK currency can be used in Guernsey, but Guernsey's own notes and coins are not accepted outside of Guernsey so make sure you change your currency before leaving. Each ATM will state whether it dispenses British or Guernsey pounds, so if you pay attention you can avoid picking up much local currency if you want to avoid that There are plentiful ATM machines in St Peter Port and at banks in outlying parishes. No VAT is charged on Guernsey.

How to get around in Guernsey?

Guernsey is largely flat and a pleasure to cycle around. Numerous rural lanes are designated Ruettes Tranquilles, where the speed limit for cars is 15mph and priority is given to cyclists, and there are designated cycle lanes in town and along the coast. You can rent bicycles from outlets in St Peter Port and also along Guernsey's north coast.

The bus network covers all the island's parishes and major attractions. A Guernsey sightseeing route, The Guernsey Vaeux (numbers 91, 92, 93), goes all the way around the island, allowing visitors to get off at various attractions. The flat fare is £2 for all journeys of any distance on all routes; children three and under go free, older children pay the flat rate. There is also a range of travel passes: from £4.50 for a one-day pass, to £38 for a seven-day family pass, good for two adults and up to three children.

Main international car rental outlets have branches at the airport, as does the local Value Rent a Car. Scooters and motorcycles can be rented in St Peter Port. Speed limits on Guernsey vary from 12 to 15mph in town to 25 to 35mph elsewhere. There are many narrow county lanes with passing places and blind corners. In fine weather, motorbiking or scootering around Guernsey is hugely enjoyable, plus parking is easier.

Castle Cornet. The 800-year-old castle is set on a piece of land jutting out into the sea. The unique location makes for a peaceful walk around the grounds.

Travel tips for Guernsey.

Along with traditional beach pursuits such as swimming, windsurfing and rock-pooling, there has been a growth in adrenalin-fuelled activities such as sunset abseiling, cliff face rock-climbing or coasteering explorations. In an effort to draw more tourists, Guernsey has been attempting to change its traditional image as a somewhat sedate, sleepy backwater, best known for offshore finance and Guernsey cream teas. In the unlikely event you tire of the coast, Guernsey has monuments ranging from eerie Neolithic tombs to Napoleonic towers and World War II bunkers and tunnels − potent reminders that the Channel Islands were the only the parts of the British Isles occupied by German forces.

Guernsey may be the most densely populated of the Channel Islands but it retains quaint rural lanes, fine sandy beaches and miles of spectacular cliffs in the south. The island has one of the largest tidal movements in the world, with waters retreating twice a day to reveal large expanses of golden sands and lunar-like seascapes, pierced with rocks and reefs.

Tasty Walks is a series of 20 self-guided walks which make the most of the very best the island has to offer - its stunning scenery and fabulous food. Whether it's the rugged south coast cliff paths, the long sweeping bays of the west or uncovering the historic past of the island's capital, the island has much to offer in just 25 square miles.

Little Chapel Les Vauxbelets.

Travel money for Guernsey

Another popular option is to
use a Pre-paid Travel Card. Your Debit/Credit Card provider will charge you 2% from market mid-rate,
but your bank may also charge an extra 3% as an “Overseas Transaction Charge” plus “Overseas ATM” fees for withdrawing cash.

For card purchases if offered a choice of currencies always select to
Pay in British Pound Sterling otherwise you may get much worst exchange rates.

Note we do not compare every single provider in the market, we compare a selection of established, reputable foreign exchange providers & banks who are regulated in the US as licensed money transmitters. We may receive referral fees if you choose one of these providers however this will not affect the exchange rates or fees you are charged.

Rate snapshot: 02/22/2019

Guernsey Trip Checklist

Sending money to Guernsey

When searching around for information on how to get a good exchange rate when sending money to Guernsey you need to start with finding out the latest
British Pound Sterling foreign-transfer exchange rate.

Then compare your bank's exchange rates to several licensed FX providers exchange rate and fees to see how much
you can save (we make that calculation easy here).

Get a better deal for foreign transfers to Guernsey

When sending money to Guernsey it’s important to compare your bank’s rates & fees with those we have negotiated with our partner money transfer providers.
To get a better deal you should follow these 4 simple steps :

Open an account with a BER reviewed FX provider (id docs may be required)

You specify the local or British Pound Sterling amount you want to transfer

Make a local currency domestic transfer for the requested amount to the provider's bank account in your country

Once your funds are received by the provider the converted GBP amount will be transfered to the recipient account you specify in Guernsey.

Use our Send to GBP calculator to compare the exchange rates of FX specialist providers rates versus your bank's standard rates you can hopefully save around 5% and maybe more -
end result is more British Pound Sterling deposited into the recipient bank account and less margins and fees kept by the banks!

Note we do not compare every single provider in the market, we compare a selection of established, reputable foreign exchange providers & banks who are regulated in the US as licensed money transmitters. We may receive referral fees if you choose one of these providers however this will not affect the exchange rates or fees you are charged.

The foreign exchange rates and products compared on this page and website are chosen from a range of products that bestexchangerates.com (BER) has access to and are not
representative of all the products available in the market. The use of terms "Best" and "Top" are not product ratings and are subject to our disclaimer.
You should consider seeking independent financial advice and consider your personal financial circumstances when comparing products.
We may receive referral fees in relation to your activity on the BER website however this doesn't affect the exchange rates or fees you are charged.